Second largest salt company based in metro

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — Did you know the second largest salt company in the world is based right here in the metro? Compass Minerals is headquartered in Overland Park. Its ice melt is sold in stores across the country — and as you can imagine business over the past week has been booming!

Over the past week, hardware and grocery stores in the metro have barely been able to keep up with the demand for everything from bread and milk, to shovels and ice melt. There’s a good chance that salt you’re using on your sidewalk and driveway is likely processed by the local company.

It was a busy day at Nuts and Bolts True Value Hardware in Overland Park. “I think we’re down to the last 200 or so snow shovels, I have one snow blower left at about a 1,000$ dollars,” said employee Darrell Hartman.

That was at noon Monday. That snow blower was long gone by Monday afternoon.

Those shovels? Only a handful of the original 2,000 were left by 5 Monday night. Also selling fast? Wiper fluid, gas cans and ice melt.

The company that produces ‘Safe Step’ ice melt is based in the metro.

“It has been flying off the shelves as you would expect,” said Jerry Bucan from Compass Minerals.

Bucan said they welcome this second blast from Mother Nature. “We’re happy to see the storm activity pick up because it is good for business,” he said.
Compass Minerals says it’s the second largest salt company in the world. Its ice melt is sold in stores nationwide and in Canada. It also sells highway deicing salt and a liquid deicer that’s used by cities across the country, including Overland Park, Kan.